Fuel burner



Feb. 27, 1945-. A. G. KAUFMAN FUEL BURNER Filed May 14, 1940 4 Sheets -Sheet 1 INVENTOR ADOLP/-l G. KAUF %MAN jATTORNEY Fb. 27, 1945. A, G. KAUFMAN FUEL BURNER Filed May 14, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR DOLPH 6. KAU/"MAN TTORNEY Feb. 27, 1945. A, e. KAUFMAN 2,370,l72

FUEL BURNER Filed May 14, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 !NVENTOR ADOLPH 6. KAUFMA/V gz m TTORNEY Patentecl Feb. 27, 1945 NiTED' FICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to burners of the type in which combustion of th fue] takes place upon a plate called the generator or vaporizer, and wherein the heated condition of said generator or vaporizer causes the cracking of the fuel substance into its Component parts, one of which is infiammable gas. The inflammable gas, when ignited, causes an intense flame resulting in the rapid expansion of the air in and about the burner and thus the relatively heavier outside atmosphere under positive pressure displaces the gases of combustion in a rapid and continuous stream.

The invention contemplates a novel form of burning device wherein the supply of air is conducted by passages and directors to cascade downward on top ef the generator or vaporizer in such a manner as to cause the flame to spread or mushroom outward against the combuston area to be beat-ed.

The invention contempiates a novel form of oil burner in which the conduits and passages for supplying air to the vaporizer are arranged in a novei ;manner and wherein the installation of the burner is rendered flexible to obtain a desired operation.

The invention also contemplates the provision of an improved vaporizer which may be made in various sizes and which is constructed to obviate warping and cracking.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a burner unit provided with an air manifold in the upper portion. thereof and with passages communicating said manfold with the lowermost portion of a furnace or boiler so that the air supplied to the vaporizer positioned below the manifold, is drawn from the lowernost, and hence the coolest portion of the room in which said boiler or furnace is Situated.

The invention also contemplates a burner which may selectively burn either oil or illuminating gas, and includes provisions for preventing flooding of the oil should the pilot burner used for pre-heating the vaporizer, become extirguished` The provision of means for centering the vaporizer in relation to the air manifold also forms an important feature of the invention.

In addition to the above, the invention also contemplates the provision of means for leveling the vaporizer sc that proper operation may be obtained.

Another feature of the inventlon resides in a novel form of gas supply unit, said unit imorporating a pilot burner formed integral with but isolated from the remainder of said burner.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for absorbing and burning off any oil which may not be consumed on the vaporize", the combustion of said excess oil serving to fun ther heat said vaporizer to intensify the fire supported thereon.

In addition to and also apart from the above features, objects, and advantages of the invention, the arrangement of the various parts as shown in the accompanying drawings in .their present preerred embodiments,'constitute contemplated improvements in the Construction of burners of 'the instant type. i

In the accompanylng drawings in which, by way of example, are shown several forms of burner incorporating features of the invention:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through a portion of the lower part of a boiler and having installed therein a burner such as contemplated in the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the bumer, certain deflecting pates being 'removed for clearer illustration.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a detai of Construction.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing an alternate form of support, including means for leveling and for centering, for the vaporizer plate.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 7 is a top plan View, partially broken away, of a gas burner..

Fig. 8 isa vertical sectional view of the top portion thereoi.

Figs. 9 and 10 are small scale schematic eleva tional views, each showing alternate means fo: supporting and centering the vaporizer piate.

Fig. ll is a vertical sectional View of a burner of modified design. i

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, illustrating a modification of the burner shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is an elevational View of a two-part burner.

Fig. l i is a, plan View thereof as positioned within a boilez Fig. 15 is a plan view of the vaporizer piate shown in Fig. 1. i

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, the burner may be incorporated in any device such as a furnace or boiler !5 in which, preferably, the grate is removed, the contemplated assembly of the burner being seli -supporting.

The burner comprises a vaporizer IS remov..

ably carried by a tube or pipe I 1 supported in an upright position by a drip or overflow pan ll. The latter may be cored as at IS to provide a communication between the pipe l'l and an oil inlet line which is preferably connected to a gravity feed oil tank (not shown).

The vaporizer plate !6, as at present conceived, is formed as a substantially conical member having a series of concentric circular ribs and grooves 2l. -These grooves are so formed and so correlated as to cause oil supplied through the pipe IT to casoade down the surface of said plate and toward its outer rim. In this manner the oil is retarded in its flow to afiord time for proper cracking thereof.

During combustion of the oil the vaporizer plate becomes quite hot and is subjected to forces tending to warp and fracture it. To obviate this, said plate is preferably Iormed with one or more slots 22 to afford freedom of expansion of said plate. To prevent oil from passing through said slot or slots, each is provided with walls or barriers 23 defining the edges oi said slots.

The vaporizer plate is positioned substantially centrally of a burner base 24, said base being formed with a skirt portion 25 and an inverted hollow conical portion 26, and including a gas burner assembly 21 formed with an opening 28 through which the pipe ll freely passes. The conical portion or web 26 is preferably formed with one or more grooves 29 and 30 into which the respective asbestos or similar non-combustii ble packings 3| and 32 may be placed. Communicating the grooves 29 and 30 there may be provided a plurality of radial grooves 33. Thus, any oil which drips from the peripheral edge of the vaporizer will be oollected by the packing 3l and burned thei-ein should the temperature at that point be sufficiently high, or passed from said packing 3l by means of the grooves 33 to the packing 32 to be burned at that point. In any event, with the vaporizer in operation sufilcient heat will be generated in the vicinity of the mentioned packings to cause combustion of any oil which may find its way to them.

The burner unit 21 is preferably formed with a hollow gas chambe- 34 and is provided with a plurality of burner tips 35 positioned so as to direct a gas name emanating from said tips in an upward direction. This burner is also formed with a separate pilot gas chamber 36 having a burner tip 31. Gas may be supplied to the chamber 34 as by means of a pipe 38 and the pilot chamber may be similarly supplied through the smaller pipe 39.

In normal operation only the pilot light is employed for pre-heating the generator or vaporizer before operation of the burner is started. However, should the oil supply fail, and heat be desired, the vaporizer plate l6 may be replaced by any well-known form of deflecting plate and gas supplied through the pipe 38 so that a highly efi'cient gas flame is provided.

It will be noted that the gas burner 21 (Figs. 7 and 8) is formed in its upper portion with grooves 40. These are provided to permit oil, falling from the vaporizer plate into the sump formed between the gas burner and the web 26, to flow ofi into the drip pan |8 without Iouling the gas burner. This latter condition may obtain should the pilot light become extinguished. The oil flowing in the overflow pipe 4l may be made to give warning of the fact that the oil is being fed to the burner but not being consumed. For this purpose. although not shown, a

drip bucket or the like may cause, when filled, operation of suitable signaling means.

The oil which may pass through the passage 28 during failure of the burner is more readily directed toward the drip pan |8 and not permitted to flow and spread along adjacent parts, by providing means such as the projections 42. said projections are directed downwardly to collect the oil so that it may drop therefrom into the drip pan.

Primary air is supplied to the burner through an inlet 43 controlled as by a butterfiy valve 44. This inlet is preferably positioned at the lowermost point of the boiler or furnace and air r passing therethrough is 'directed to the base manifold 45 to which are connected the vertically disposed air conduits, 46., It is preferred to form the base manifold 45 and connecting portions of the inlet 43 open at the bottom so that the air passing therethrough maintains contact with the furnace floor to keep the temperature of the air at this point as low as possible.

Each of the conduits 46 is arranged to enter and communicate with a passage 41 formed in the burner base 24. said passages are extended above the top of the burner base to form collars 48 over which are fitted the downwardly directed legs 49 of the elbow fittings 50. The horizontal legs 5l of these fittings are commonly directed towards the center of the burner and connected by a manifold member 52 as by means of the clips 53 engaged over coacting fianges of the elbows and the manifold member. The latter is formed with a downwardly directed opening 54 directly over the vaporizer !6 whereby air from the inlet 43 is directed towards the top surface of said vaporizer.

In order to render this assembly quite fiexible so the air opening may be properly positioned in relation to the vaporizer, spacing rings such as shown at 55 may be inte'posed between the elbows 50 and the burner base 24, or a manifold suitable to a particular installation may be fitted to the elbows so the air opening 54 has a desired positional relation to the vaporizer.

The air manifold above described may also serve t'o support means for deflecting the fiame towards the walls of the boiler or furnace. Such 'means may comprise the deflector plates 56 removably held in position as by means of the lugs 51. A lifting-ring may be for-med with the manifold member 52 such as shown at 58.

While three air conduits have been illustrated, it is apparent that any given number may be used to obtain a desired operation, the fiame passing to the boiler or furnace walls between the vertical legs of the manifold. The foregoing construction also permits a smooth uninterrupted flow of air to the vaporizer, said flow being induced by the differential in temperature of the air inlet 43 and air outlet 54.

In order to obtain this desired operation, the burner is sealed against air coming to the vaporizer la erally. For this purpose a sealing ring 59 is provided to encircle the burner and set within the furnace walls and said ring then serves to support a mass 60 of non-inflammable material such as asbestos.

The mentioned ring 59 may be supported as on the radiating fingers 6! carried by the conduits 46 or any other suitable portion of the burner and said fingers may also be provided with adjustable end portions 62 which serve to center the burner in the boiler or furnace. The fingers are preferably integrally formed on collars 63 which may be secured to the conduits as at 54 and said collars may be provided with inward extensions 85 secured to the burner base at 66. i

So that proper operation of the burner may be had, it is preferred to provide means for leveling the vaporizer and for centering said generato' in relation to the air manifold.

As shown in Fig. 1, the drip pan !8 may be formed with a spherical extension 51 having engagement in a seat 68 formed in the center of a plate 69, the latter being carried by a pipe 'Ni or the like. The latter may be locked in vertically adjustable position in relation to the support plate 'H by means of lock nuts 12. The plate 'II may be carried by brackets 13 formed either on the air ring 45 or on a separate base portion, and means such as the bolts 14 may serve to lock said plate to said brackets in any adjusted lateral relation whereby the center line of the pipe 10 and hence the vaporizer IS is definitely centered in 'elation to the air manifold.

The drip pan is held assembled to the plate 69 by means such as the tension spring 15 having one end hooked to the extension 51 and the other adjustably held as at 16. In this manner the Vertical condition of the tube l'I and the level condition of the vaporizer !6 may be obtained and said condition maintained by means such as the leveiing screws 11, carried by the plate 69 and impinging against the bottom of the drip pan.

A preferred form of leveling screw is shown, said screw being provided with a nut 18 selectively positioned in any of the seats 19 to obviate rotation of said nut to thus facilitate easy manipulation of said screw for leveling the vaporizer. The various slots 80 are provided to render more flexible the adjustment of the vaporizer.

Figs. and 6 illustrate a preferred Construction for centering the vaporizer. In this arrangement the base manifold is preferably formed with inwardly directed lugs 8! which are tapped for the screw studs 82, said studs being adjustably positionable in vertical relation and locked in such position as by means of the nuts 83. The plate 'H may be formed with relatively large openings 84 through which pass the upper ends of the screw studs and said plate may be supported and locked in position as by means of the nuts 85. To complete the assembly, washers 86 are interposed between each of said nuts and the associated surfaces of said plate. Thus, there is provided additional means for vertically positioning the plate 'H and hence the Vaporizer.

To afford lateral adjustment of the vaporizer, each stud 82 carries a bracket 81 having a tapped upwardly directed leg for a set screw 88 which is arranged to impinge against a peripheral portion of the plate TI. The screws 88, preferably three in number, thus serve to laterally position the plate 'H and hence the Vaporizer. In order to lock said plate in adjusted position, a number of set screws 89 carried by brackets 90 from lugs 91 formed on the base manifold 45, may be provided to engage peripheral portions of the plate intermediate the set screws 88.

.As shown in Fig. 9, the vaporizer and drip panmay be supported on studs 92 fixed to the base manifold 45 and yieldably supported as by coil springs 93 arranged about said studs.

In the formof assembly shown in Fig. 10, the vaporizer and drip pan assembly is carried by studs 94 fixed to a plate 95 having a ball and socket association with the base manifold 45 as at 88. Springs 91 or similar means may be provided for adiustably leveling said assembly.

The passage 28 in the burner base may be utilized for secondary air, said air being adapted to be supplied through an opening 98 controlled in size as by means of a shutter 99.

The modified form of the burner shown in Fig. 11 is essentially similar to that shown in Fig. l with the exception that four conduits 46 are employed'to conduct air from the base manifold 45 to the upper air supplying means terminatin in the downwardly directed opening 54, and that the vaporizer IS and the drip pan |8 are differently mounted for accurate adjustment.

As illustrated, a plate !00 is supported on the base manifold 45 and may be leveled relative thereto as by means of the screw I o. The plate oo is locked to its support as by means of the looking plate !02 held by the bolt |03 firmly to the base manifold 45. Means such as the screw !04, threadedly engaged in the plate mn and engaged with the locking plate !02, may be employed for centering said plate as desired.

The plate Iflfl is fitted with a post !05 upon which is carried the drip pan s. The latter, in this instance, is formed with a spherical seat I 06 against which is engaged the hemi-spherical portion D'I of a sleeve !08 arranged vertically. To prevent rotation of said sleeve, means such as the polygonal portion !09 of the sleeve may be disposed in a similarly shaped opening IIU in the drip pan.

A -bracket plate IH is fixed to the drip pan to form an abutment for the compression spring i !2 which urges the hemi-spherical portion IO'I against its seat !06. The plate l l l is formed with an opening through which the sleeve IOB protrudes and screws ||3 mounted in bracket lugs I l4 on the plate III, are arranged to impinge the protruding sleeve portion so the same may be adjusted for perpendicular position. The tube or pipe i'i is locked to the sleeve i 08 as by a set screw ll5 and may be held non-rotationally therein as by the key means lili. As previously described, the tube IT serves to support the generator or vaporizer IS.

In the above manner, the vaporizer plate !6 may be leveled, centered, and accurately vertically positioned with respect to the other parts oi' the burner in a quick and easy manner.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 11, the means for supplying gas to the burner is somewhat difierently designed from that described for Fig. 1, but the mode of operation which is obtained, is the same. The pilot burner 31 is supplied by the line 39 and the main burner 21 is supplied by the line 38 As shown in Fig. 12, the vaporizer s and the drip pan |8 may be carried from the conical web portion Mi of the burner base 24, the Construction being otherwise similar to that described for Fig. 11. The bolts lil, adjustably engaged with the plate l l i may be employed for this purpose. The plate I i l may, of course, be omitted and the bolts fastened directly to the drip pan I8.

Frequently a boiler or furnace has a fire door and other openings too small for the insertion of burner parts commensurate in size with the capacity of burner required by such boiler or furnace. As shown in Figs. 13 and 14 under the above conditions, said boiler or furnace may be fitted With a two or more part burner of equal or better efliciency than that of a single larger burner.

In this assemb1y. the burner comprises the burnebases 200 and 200', each provided with an air manifold 20! or 20l' connected by air conduits 202 and 202 with a common air ring 203 or with two air rings. The burner bases 200 and 200 may be placed in abutting relation as shown and suitably Secured together as by bolts or the like.

The vaporizers 204 and 204 may be supported in any of the ways previously described and provided with drip pans 205 and 205 having a communicating passage or with a common drip pan. In this assembly, each burner is provided with a separate oil feed line 205 and 206 but preferably with a common oil overfiow line 208.

The burners may be operated separately or together to give a flexibility of operation not possible with a single larger burner and at an efficiency .considerably higher. The portions of the fiame of each burner, which are directed towards each other serve to heat the center of the boiler or furnace, a condition desirable with certain type of construction of such devices.

Whilethe foregoing is quite detailed, it is obvious that numerous changes in the construction and arrangement of the burner parts may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A burner of the character described comprising a burner base having a plurality of peripherally arranged passages, an air manifold connected with said passages and having a, central downwardly directed opening, a vaporizer positioned beneath said opening and having a central fuel inlet, a fuel overflow pan below and arranged to support said vaporizer and having a passage communicating with said fuel inlet, a fuel connection to said pan, means for conduct ing air to said opening, means for leveling said vaporizer, and adjustable means for centerng and raising said vaporizer in relation to said opening.

2. In a burner of the character described, a burner base comprising a member having a plurality of primary air passages therethrough, said base being provided with an inverted conical wall, and with a gas burner unit integrally formed with said wall, said latter unit being formed with a central vertical secondary air passage, and a.

vaporizer associated with said burner base and positioned above said gas burner unit for receiving air passing through all of the mentioned air passages, means to supply liquid fuel to the vaporizer said vaporizer having a central fuel inlet, and said conical wall being provided with means for receiving fuel passing from said fuel inlet along the surface of said vaporizer and unvaporized by or on the vaporizer.

3. A burner of the character described comprising a vaporizer having a central fuel inlet, an air supply manifold arranged above said vaporizer and comprising a plurality of inwardly directed elbow members, a central member, means for removably connecting said elbow members with said central member, said latter member having a downwardly directed air opening, means for adjustably varying the vertical relation be-` tween the vaporizer and the manifold, and means for leveling said vaporizer, and means for center ing the vaporizer in relation to the maniold opening.

4. In a fuel burner of the character described, a vaporizer comprising a plate having a central fuel inlet and formed with substantially radlal slots to obviate warping and fracturing of said plate under intense heat, the top surface of said plate being ormed with a series of concentric alternate grooves and ridges to retard the flow of fuel along said surface, and barriers higher than said ridges provided at the walls of said slots.

5, In a burner of the character described, a vaporizer having a central fuel inlet, an overflow pan supporting said vaporizer, said central fuel inlet extending through said overflow pan, means for conducting air to the top surface of the vaporizer, said means comprising an air inlet member, an air manifold, above the air-inlet member, conduit connectins between the inlet member and the manifold, said manifold having an opening directed toward the Vaporizer, means for leveling the vaporizer, means for centering the vaporizer relative to the opening in the manifold and means for vertically adjusting the vaporizer in relation to the manifold, means for supporting the overfiow pan and means for vertically adjusting the overfiow pan, all said last four means being accessibly located remote from the heat zone of :the vaporizer.

6. In a burner of the character described, a vaporizer having a central fuel inlet, an overflow pan supporting said vapo rizer, a fuel tube formed with the pan, said central fuel inlet extending to and communicating with aid overfiow pan tube, means for conducting air to the top surface of the vaporizer, said means comprising an air manifold, a controllable air-inlet member, conduit connections between the inlet member and the manifold, said manifold having an opening directed toward the vaporizer, means for leveling the vaporizer, said means comprising a support for the overfiow pan and a universal joint between the overflow pan and its support, .4

means for centering the vaporizer relative to the opening in the manifold, and means for vertically adjusting the overfiow pan.

'7. In a burner of the character described, a burner base comprising a member having a plurality of air passages therethrough, said base being provided with an inverted conical wall and with a gas burner unit located axially of said conical wall, a vaporizer associated with said burner base and positioned above said gas burner unit for receiving air passing through all of the mentioned air passages, said vaporizer being provided with a central fuel inlet and said conical wall being provided with means for receiving the drippings of any unconsumed fuel passing from said fuel inlet along the surface of said vaporizer.

8. In a burner of the character' described, a vaporizer having a central fuel inlet, an overfiow pan supporting said vaporizer, a fuel tube formed with said pan, said central fuel inlet extending to and communicating with said overfiow pan tube, means for conducting air to the top surface of the vaporizer, said means comprising an air inlet member, an air manifold above the air-inlet member, conduit connections between the inlet member and the manifold, said manifold having an opening directed toward the vaporizer, means for leveling the vaporizer, means for centering the vaporizer relative to the opening in the manifold and means for vertically adjusting the vaporizer in relation to the manifold, means for supporting the overfiow pan, and means for vertically, horizontally, and laterally adjusting the overflow pan. all of said last four means being accessibly located remote from the heat zone of the vaporizer.

9. A removable assembly for use in and as part of a fuel oil burner comprising a base, a support plate, means for levelng said support plafe relative to said base, means for adjustably positioning said support plate relative to the remainder of the fuel oil burner, means tor clamping the support plate to said base in adjusted po 

